Turmeric is having a moment—and it's popping up in way more things (soups! drinks! beauty products!) than your chicken tikka masala.

Understanding the Context

But like so many "it girls," turmeric also has a hard-to-say name. Turmeric is a common spice that comes from the root of Curcuma longa. It contains a chemical called curcumin, which might reduce swelling. Turmeric has a warm, bitter taste and is frequently used...

Key Insights

Turmeric provides many antioxidant benefits, can help reduce inflammation, lowers your risk for heart disease, and may even help improve memory and brain health. Turmeric — and especially its most active compound, curcumin — has many potential health benefits, such as improving heart health and preventing Alzheimer’s and cancer. Turmeric is a perennial herbaceous plant that reaches up to 1 m (3 ft 3 in) tall. [1] . It has highly branched, yellow to orange, cylindrical, aromatic rhizomes.

Final Thoughts

Turmeric is a deep, golden-orange spice known for adding color, flavor and nutrition to foods. A relative of ginger, turmeric comes from the rhizome (root) of a native Asian plant and has been used in cooking for hundreds of years. Turmeric is commonly used to flavor or color curry powders, mustards, and other foods. The turmeric root is also used to make alternative medicine. It may seem simple to add turmeric to your routine — but there’s more to taking turmeric than meets the eye. These eight tips will help you get the most out of turmeric and make sure you take it safely.